Monroe County clerk warns against deed scam

Homeowners who have been asked to pay for a copy of their deed need not comply.

Homeowners who have been asked to pay for a copy of their deed need not comply.

That's the message from Monroe County Clerk Cheryl Dinolfo, who today warned the community about a letter circulating among area homes that she's classified as a scam.

The mailing, Dinolfo said, comes from the New York City-based New York Record Retrieval, Inc. It's misleading, she added, because it looks official and urges people to get a copy of their deed. There's no need to do so, Dinolfo said, because her office maintains property deeds.

State law sets the fees clerks can charge for copies. The average cost in Monroe County is $5, according to the clerk's office. The company charges nearly $60.

"While this scam may technically be legal, it certainly is unethical, and I encourage anyone receiving a letter asking them to pay such a fee for this so-called service to ignore it," Dinolfo said at a morning press conference. "My office will be glad to assist anyone interested in obtaining a certified copy of their deed quickly for just a fraction of
the price."

Copies can be accessed online at www.monroecounty.gov or at the County Clerk's Office in the County Office Building, 39 W. Main St., Rochester.